GAME OPTIONS

The game interface offers numerous facilities. In the Game Management option there are four buttons. The first and the last are used to switch between the interface panels, the question mark directs a player to the help file and the X button helps a player leave the game.

On the right of the bar there are two "dots".

The upper dot shows the current server connection:
   1. Dark green - active;
   2. Orange - ping exceeds 30 sec.;
   3. Red - no connection (the connection will be restored automatically in a while),
   4. Light green - connection restoring.

Clicking the lower dot disconnects and reconnects to the server. It is useful in case of connection problems or disconnection.

TIPS

To facilitate using the interface and to make it more salient we have introduced TIPS. They are small descriptive windows, which are displayed when we move the cursor to some elements in the interface, e.g. "dots" above the chat, a player's nick from the player's list and so on.

CREATING A TABLE

All the table parameters to be created are set here.

Table parameters

If you wish to play at the table with no watchers, you can choose a Private Table. Then the only way to gain an opponent is to Invite someone to the game. It is also possible to invite watchers.

Time is the number of seconds in which players can decide about their moves in the game. When the time is over, the move is transferred to another player.

If a player does not want any witnesses while playing, they can set a No watchers option.

Escape=Pause - players can use this option and save the result when e.g. one of the players is disconnected from the game. Also, when the game is being played, the window which allows a player to select the time of pausing the game is displayed after the pause has been clicked. The precise description is to be found below at the SafeGame module.

LOCAL SETTINGS

If a player does not wish to receive any invitations to the table from other players, they can set a No invitations option.

Switching on and off the Sound alarm option means turning on and off the sound during the game.

The Show Letter Values option displays the letter value having pointer is with a mouse cursor. Switching on the Flash Marked Letters option marks the active letters with flashing frames, which make them more salient.

INTERFACE

A player can change the card covers and their appearance by selecting with arrows the kind of card covers and appearance they like.

A player can change the interface size by selecting a small or a large table. If the graphics is not on the player's computer, a suitable window with "Download" will be displayed. The interface will be available having been downloaded to the player's disc.

SAFEGAME

The game is equipped with a new mechanism, the so-called SafeGame. The operation of this option includes:

1.    Searching

If a player is disconnected during the game, he has 5 minutes to return to the table. The counter is displayed for the opponents and the countdown starts.

When a player is logging on to any room, the window with the information that the game is started in room …… at the table …… is displayed. If the player accepts the offer to return to the table, he returns to the game. Otherwise it is regarded as an escape.

2.    Saving the game

If the option Escape=Pause is switched on in the table settings, the game will not be stopped but paused when one of the players is disconnected from the game. The current game situation will be saved in the game server.

3.    Pausing the game

If the opponents wish to pause the game for some time and continue it later, the Pause Game option in the Game Controls is set. The player asking for a pause can choose between the definite pausing time (the possibility of setting the number of minutes) and pausing for an indefinite space of time. Having paused the game, the information to the players and the Continue button which resumes the game are displayed. In case of the limited pause time, the game will be resumed after that time. If the game was paused for indefinite time, each player can leave the table. The game is not paused then but it is saved at the server like in case of Escape=Pause.

4.    Resuming the game

If players with an unfinished game sit at the table, the suggestion to resume the game will be displayed. If accepted, the game will start where it was paused. If rejected, the game will remain saved at the server until a new game is started by the players.

THE LIST OF PLAYERS AND ROOMS

Room List

There is a list of rooms here a players can freely switch their main chat between just clicking a particular room. If a player is already playing at a table, the game is left in the room it has been started in. On the right of the room name there are two figures, e.g. 98/15. The first one is the number of players in the room and the second one is of the tables set. Maximum 20 tables can be created in one room. If the number of tables in a particular table is that big, the table name on the list is displayed in gray.

The list of players in room:

Having double-clicked a player's nick, you will see the detailed information about them:

Player: The name of the player;

Rating: amount of player's points;

Games completed: The number of the games the player has played;

Games abandoned: The number of games the player abandoned and has non completed;

Wins: The number of games won;

Loses: The number of games lost;

Draws: amount of games drawn;

Tables: The number of tables the player is sitting at;

Inactive: The time the player has not performed any operations (a move, chat discussion);

Ping: It shows how much time it will take for the player's move (or a chat message) to reach the opponent.

Double-clicking the player's nick with the right button enters the player's nick to the chat bar.

EXTRA OPTIONS

There are five "dots" just above the chat window; three in the middle and two in the right corner. Some dots perform a few functions. Clicking the dot several times makes it possible to use its sequential functions.

The dots in the middle are responsible for (from the left):
   1. Sorting by:
      a. Tables available - the tables with places both for players and watchers; they are not private;
      b. Tables taken available for watchers - the tables with all the seats taken but with seats available for watchers;
      c. Tables taken - the tables with all the seats taken but without seats available for watchers;
      d. Private tables - the tables which cab be joined only when invited by the administrator;
   2. Sorting by the sequential table numbers;
   3. Sorting by:
      a. Tables with the player from the player list - mark the player on the players' list and click the dot; the tables are sorted in such a way that the one with the selected player is on the top;
      b. Tables by the table number (see above).

The dots on the right are responsible for (from the left):
   1. Having clicked the left dot, we switch between a bib table icon and a small one.
   2. Having clicked the right dot, we switch the chat size from the small one to a big one.

GAME CONTROLS (only while playing)

Stand Up is the option by which a player leaves the game. They can always return to the previous seat clicking the Sit option, unless another player has taken the seat.

The Start Game option lets a player suggest starting a new game. When all the remaining players accept the suggestion, a new game is started.

Stop Game (without any consequences to the players) stops the current game. It must be confirmed by all the other players.

THE LIST OF PLAYERS

Only players with the administrator authority have access to the first three options.

Invite to game and Boot from game are the contrary options - one sends an invitation to the selected player, the other one removes one of the accompanying players from the table. (Please, do not abuse this option as it is not pleasant to be booted at no legitimate reason.). If, at any reason, a player does not wish to be a game administrator any longer, he can decide to Transfer privilege to another player.

Besides, the player with an administrator privilege can change table parameters. Having changed the parameters, click Refresh on server and the changes will be saved.
An administrator can change the table parameters while playing but they will be working since the next dealing.

PLAYERS IN A ROOM

Having double-clicked a selected player's nick, special information about the player will be displayed (they were presented above).